Game



'W. M. SHETLER Jan. 19,l 1937.

GAME

` Filed May 10, 1935 's sheets-sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 W. M. SHETLER GAME Filed May 10, 1935 /IIIIIIIIII Jan. 19, 1937.

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 GAME Walter M. Shetler, Chicago, Ill., assigner of oneliaif te Gordan Shetler, Chicago, 111.

Application May 10,

18 Claims.

This invention relates to games, and particularlyto games of skill wherein projectiles such as rings, discs or similar substantially flat objects are projected onto a projectile support or field having a plurality of targets associated therewith.

One object of the invention is to provide a game wherein a plurality of physical objects are provided for determining the position of the projectiles with relation to the targets and wherein means are provided for removing the projectiles from their relation with said objects and returning vthe projectiles to a magazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game having a plurality of pins over which ring-like projectiles may be projected and Wherein novel means are provided for removing the ring-like projectiles from the pins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game having a manually operated projector and magazine for the projectiles, and wherein novel means are provided for conveying the projectiles from the magazine to the projector.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means to eliminate jamming of the projectiles in the magazine and interferring with their passage to the conveying means.

A still further object e-f the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a game device embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevational View taken substantially as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevational view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational View of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, and taken substantially as indicatedby the line fl--ll thereof;

T-ig. 5 is an elevational view of a coin controlled device illustrating its relation to certain structure forming a portion of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional view of the projector mechanism taken substantially as indicated by the line of Fig. 2.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention 1935, serai No. 20,744 (ci. 273-100) one end thereof, is a supporting member I3 hav-l ing a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced pins Ifl mounted therein and extending upward-v ly from the upper side thereof. v

Mounted preferably adjacent the opposite end portions of the frame l l and shown, in the present instance, as rigidly connected to a supporting bar i5 rotatably mounted in brackets I6 is a plate iiadapted to support a plurality of projectiles employed in playing the game and indicated by the numeral it, the plate Il being provided with a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced apertures I9 adapted, respectively, to receive the pins l i in such a manner that the pins will extend therethrough, the upper surface of the plate I'IA also provided with a plurality of targets adjacent the apertures le and designated by scoring numerals, such as 500, 200, 100, etc., indicated at 2l in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

For convenience in the further description of the device, the projectiles i8 will be referred to, preferably, as rings, but it will be understood that the projectiles may be either of substantially circular disc-like form, or of annular ring-like form as shown in the present instance, and reference to the projectiles as rings or the like is intended to include projectiles of a character which may be projected and which may cooperate with the pins in a manner to be positioned thereby.

Rigidly connected to the rota-table supporting bar l5 is a downwardly extending armv 22 adapted to be engaged by a lug 23 formed on a bracket 2li carried by a slide bar t5 forming a part of suitable coin controiled mechanism as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and indicated as a whole by the numeral 25, in a manner to tilt the plate ll about the axial line of the supporting bar I5 by movement of the Slide bar 25 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Inasmuch as the specific type of coin controlled mechanism forms no part of the present invention, a detailed description of thel mechanism is not thought necessary as any suitable coin controlled device having a slide such as indicated at 25 may be employed. v

For projecting the rings I8 in the direction of the pins E4, an inclined projector and ring guide, indicated as a whole by the numeral 2l, is adapted .to extend through the end Wall 23 of the frame II, and comprises a ring guide 29 pivotally mounted at 39 in a manner to permit lateral, pivotal or swinging movement of the proe jector 27 in a manner to direct the rings in various directions towards the pins I4,

The projector 27 is clearly shown in Fig. 6 and comprises the ring guide 29 having a plunger 3i slidably mounted therein, the plunger 3| being provided with a stem 32 extending outwardly through a sleeve 33 rigidly mounted in the ring guide member 29 and having a compression spring 34 surrounding the stem 32 and operating between a shoulder 35 on the outer end of the sleeve 33 and a pin 36 extending through the stem 32, the outer end of the stem being provided with a knob 31 by which the stem may be drawn outwardly and the spring energized to project a ring I8 toward the pinsA I4, a resilient washer 38, such as rubber or the like, being po' sitioned between the end of the sleeve 33 and the knob 37 to absorb the shock or impact of the knob with the end of the sleeve when released.

For collecting and arranging the rings I8 in such a manner that they may be successively conveyed tothe projector 2i', a magazine, indicated as a whole by the numeral 39, and having an inclined bottom portion 4I, is arranged within the frame I I preferably adjacent the wall 28, the magazine 39 being provided adjacent its lower end with a discharge opening 42.

For temporarily holding the rings within the magazine 39,V a stop member 43 is mounted adjacent the discharge opening 42 and is provided with a vertically disposed portion 43a having a slot 44 therein adapted to loosely receive a pairV of studs or bolts 45 and 46 by which the stop member 43 and portion 43a is slidably mounted Yon a bracket 4'I secured to the magazine 39.

Mounted adjacent the discharge end of the magazine 39 and communicating therewith through the discharge opening 42 is a vertically disposed guide or channel 48 extending upwardly a substantial distance above the horizontal plane of the projector, the guide channel 48 communicating at its upper end portion with one end of an inclined guide 49, the opposite or lower end of the guide 49 terminating above the ring guide 29 and having an opening 5I in its lower side through which the rings may be discharged into a hopper-like structure 52 mounted on the ring guide 29 to facilitate the positioning of the rings in proper relation with respect to the projector.V

For conveying the rings I8 from the magazine 39 to the projector 2l, an elevator lever 53 is shown, in the present instance, as pivotally mounted on the bar i5, and as extending through an elongated slot 48a formed in the guide channel 48 and extending outwardly through a slot 28a in the wall 28 of the frame il, the elevator lever 53 being adapted to rest on a laterally extending finger 54 forming a part of the stop member 43 and extending therefrom in such a manner that when the elevator lever 53 is moved downwardly from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to the full line position shown in Fig. 4, the stop member 43 will be moved out of the discharge opening 42 and permit a ring to pass by gravity into the guide channel 48 and bepositioned above and on the lever 53, so that when the lever is moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, the ring within the channel member 49 will be moved upwardly into engagement with a defiector 55 by which the ring will be moved laterallyY into the inclined guide 49 through which it is intended to roll and be discharged through the opening 5I formed therein.

For returning the stop member 43 to its operative position, a tension spring 55 may be connected to a portion of the stop member and to a xed portion Yof the device.

For engaging super-posed rings, such as I8a (Fig. 3), which may become positioned above other rings in the magazine 39 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, and which might cause the rings to jam and interfere with their eieient passage or feed from the magazine 39 when the stop member 43 is lowered, a retaining pawl, indicated as a whole by the numeral 5l, is pivotally mounted on the stud or bolt 45 and is provided at one of its ends with a portion 56 adapted to extend into the magazine 39 and engage a superposed ring Ita, as illustrated in Fig. 4 when the stop member 43 is in its lowermost position to permit the passage of a ring into the vertically disposed guide channel 48, the positioning ci the portion 59 in the magazine 39 being accomplished by reason of a weighted end portion 59 formed on the pawl at the end thereo opposite the bolt 45 from the portion 58, the action of the portion 59 being to lift the superposed ring I8a and permitting other rings to pass thereunder into engagement with the stop member 43. For removing the portion 58 from within the magazine 39 or to the position shown in Fig. 2 in a manner Yto release the ring iw, a lug 5I, formed on the portion 43a of the stop member 43 and movable with the stop member, is adapted to engage an edge portion of the pawl 51 in a manner to rotate it in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in f Fig. 2, such movement ofthe stop member 43 and portion 43a being accomplished by the spring 56 Y when manual pressure is relieved from the ele- Vatorarm 53.

i The magazine 39 at its receiving side is provided with a guide portion 52 for receiving the rings or projectiles from the plate II when the latter is tilted to the dotted line position shown in Fig..2, and for preventing the rings or projectiles from entering upon the guide portion 62 in superposed position or one upon another,V a gauge bar 53 is mounted upon and spaced from the plate Il a distance slightly greater than the thickness or transverse dimension of one of the projectiles I8.

To facilitate the tilting of the plate I'l from the full line to the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of counter-balancing springs 54 may be connected at one of their ends to a xed part of the device and at their opposite ends to arms 65 mounted on the bar I5 and by which the plate I'I is connected thereto.

Assuming that all of the projectiles in the device have been discharged from the projector 2l onto the plate I'i, the operation of the device is substantially as follows:

By placing a suitable coin in the pocket 26a (Fig. l) of the coin controlled mechanism, the slide bar 25 may be moved inwardly tc the position shown in Fig. 5 and by reason of the engagement of a lug 23 with the arm 22, the plate il may be tilted or moved from its full line position in Fig. 2 to the dotted line position therein, thereby lifting the plate clear of the pins I4 and by reason of the inclination of the plate I'I in its dotted line position, the projectiles or rings i8 will slide down the plate past the gauge bar 63 by which superposed rings will be separated and the rings directed onto the guide portion 62 of the magazine 39 and thence into the magazine tc be directed downwardly by reason of the inclined bottom 4| thereof toward the stop member 43, and upon releasing the pressure on the slide bar 25, the plate I1, by reason of its weight, will resume its full line position as shown in Fig. 2. Thereafter, by pressing the elevator lever downwardly, the stop member i3 is removed from the discharge opening 42 and an adjacent ring permitted to roll into the vertically disposed guide channel 48 at a point above the elevator arm in a position to be moved upwardly thereby. As the elevator arm 53 is moved upwardly, the stop member d3 is returned to its operative position by the spring 56, and the continued upward movement of the arm 53 will move the ring thereon upwardly through the vertically disposed guide channel 48 and against the deector 55 by which it is directed into the inclined guide 49 and thence through the `opening 5| therein into the hopper-like structure 52 associated with the ring guide 29 for positioning the ring in the guide in front of the plunger 3| mounted therein, the inclination of the projector 21 and ring guide 28 being such that the ring |8 vvill remain in contact with the plunger 3| when the stem 32 is withdrawn to energize the spring 34 preparatory to discharging the ring from the projector toward the pins I4.

By successive similar operations of the elevator lever 53, the remaining rings in the magazine 39 will be successively conveyed to the projector for discharging them toward the pins i4, after which, by depositing another coin in the pocket 26a, the above described operations may be repeated and the playing of the game continued.y

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and .arrangement shown and described as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and sub-combinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game of the class described comprising a supporting member having a plurality of pins projecting therefrom, a plurality Vof annular projectiles, a relatively narrow magazine therefor for retaining the projectiles onv their edge porions in substantially upright position, a projector, means including an inclined guide for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, a projectile supporting plate having apertures formed therein adapted to receive said pins, said plate and pins being relatively movable for removing the projectiles from said pins and directing the return of said projectiles by gravity to said magazine.

2. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of pins projecting therefrom, av plurality of annular projectiles, a relatively narrow magazine therefor, an adjustable projector pivotally mounted on said frame, means including an inclined guide for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, a projectile supporting plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein adapted to receive said pins, said plate and pins being relatively movable for removing the projectiles from said pins and directing the return of said projectiles by gravity to said magazine.

3. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of pins projecting therefrom, a plurality of relatively thin annular projectiles, a magazine therefor having an inclined bottom portion and of relatively narrow transverse dimension for retaining the projectiles on their edge portions in substantially upright position, an adjustable projector mounted on said frame, manually operated means and an inclined guide operatively related thereto for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, an inclined projectile supporting plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein adapted to receive said pins, said plate and pins being relatively movable for removing the projectiles from said pins and directing the return of said projectiles by gravity to said magazine.

4. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a yplurality of pins projecting therefrom, a plurality of annular projectiles, a magazine therefor, a projector pivotally mounted on said frame, manually operated means and an inclined guide for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, an inclined projectile supporting plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein adapted to receive said pins, said plate and pins being relatively movable for removing the projectiles from said pins and directing the return of said projectiles by gravity to said magazine, and coin controlled means for causing the relative movement of said plate and pins.

5. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of pins projecting from one side thereof, a plurality of annular projectiles, a magazine therefor, a spring actuated projector pivotally mounted and laterally movable on said frame, manually operated means and an inclined guide for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, an inclined projectile supporting plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein adapted to receive said pins, said plate and pins being relatively movable for removing the projectiles from said pins and directing the return of said projectiles by gravity to said magazine, and coin controlled means operatively related to said plate and pins for causing the relative move-- ment thereof.

6. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a. supporting member having a plurality of pins projectingtherefrom, a plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein adapted to receive said pins, said plate being pivotally mounted adjacent one of its edges on said frame, a plurality of substantially fiat circular projectiles, a relatively narrow magazine therefor for retaining the projectiles in substantially upright position and having one of its sides flared laterally to provide a lguide portion adjacent the pivoted edge of said plate, a projector, means including an inclined guide for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, and manually operated means movably mounted in said frame and operatively related to said plate for tilting the plate out of operative relation with respect to said pins to return said projectiles by gravity to said guide portion and magazine.

'7. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of spaced pins projecting therefrom, a plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein adapted to receive said pins, said plate being -f pivoted edge of saidl'plate, a projector, means for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, and coin controlled means movably mounted in said frame and operatively related to said plate for tilting the plate outof operative relation with respect toV said pins ror returning'thc projectiles by gravity past said gauge bar to said guide portion and magazine.

8. A game of the'class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of spaced pins projecting therefrom, an inclined plate having a plurality or apertures formed therein adapted respectively to receive said pins, said plate being pivotally mounted adjacent one of its edges on said frame, a gauge bar mounted on and spaced from said plate adjacent the pivoted edge thereof, a plurality of projectiles, a magazine therefor, having a guide portion adjacent the pivoted Vedge of said plate, a projector pivotally mounted on said frame, means for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, and coin controlled means movably mounted in said fra-me and operatively related to plate for tilting the plate to remove the pins from the apertures formed therein and returning the projectiles by gravity past said gauge baito said guide portion and magazine.

9. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of spacedpins projecting therefrom, a plurality of circular projectiles, a magazine therefor having an inclined bottom, a movable projectile sto-p member adjacent one end of said magazine, a projector movably mounted on said frame, means for conveying projectiles from said magazine to said projector, said means comprising a vertically disposed guide adjacent the lower end of said magazine, an inclined guide communicating at one of its ends with said vertically disposed guide and terminating at its opposite end adjacent said projector, and an elevator engageable with said stop member for releasing a projectile from said magazine and elevating the released projectile to said inclined guide, a plate pivotally mounted in said frame and having a plurality of spaced apertures adapted respectively to receive said pins, and means operatively related to said plate for tilting theV plate to return the projectiles to said magazine. Y

10. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of spaced pins projecting therefrom, a plurality of circular projectiles, a magazine therefor having an inclined bottom, a vertically movable projectile stop member adjacent the lower end of said magazine and provided with a laterally extending nger, a projector movably mounted on said frame, means for conveying projectiles from said magazine to said projector, said means comprising a vertically disposed guide adjacent the lower end of said magazine and communicating therewith, an inclined guide communicating at one of its ends with the upper end of said vertically disposed guide and terminating at its opposite end adjacent said projector, and an elevator engageable with the laterally extending finger of said stop member for releasing a projectile from said magazine and elevating the released projectile to said inclined guide, a plate pivotally mounted in said frame and having a plurality of spaced apertures therein adapted to receive said pins, and manually actuated means for tilting the plate to re.- turn said projectiles to said magazine.

ll. A game of the class described comprising a fra-me, a supporting member having a plurality of spaced pins projectingtherefrom, a plurality of circular projectiles, a magazine therefor having an inclined bottom and having a guide portion associated therewith, avertically movable projectile stop member adjacent the lower end of said magazine and provided with a laterally extending finger, a projector and projectile guide associated therewith pivotally mounted on said frame, means for conveying projectiles from said magazine to said projector, said means comprising a vertically disposed guide adjacent the lower end of said'magazine and communicating therewith, an inclined guide communicating at one of its ends with the upper end of said vertically disposed guide and terminating at its opposite end above said projectile guide, and a manually operated elevator engageable with the laterally eX- tending finger of said stop member for releasing' a projectile `from said magazine and elevating the released projectile to said inclined guide, a plate pivotally mounted in said frame adjacent said magazine guide portion, and having a plurality of spaced apertures adapted respectively to receive said pins, and coin controlled means operatively related to said plate for tilting the plate to return i the projectiles to said guide'portion and magazine.

l2. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of spaced pins projecting therefrom, a plurality of annular projectiles engageable with said pins, a magazine tor said projectiles, having an inclined bottom and having a guide portion associated therewith, a vertically reciprocating projectile stop member adjacent the-lower end of said magazine and provided with a laterally extending finger, a retaining pawl movable into and out of said magazine and operatively related to said stop member in a manner to be moved thereby, a projector and projectile guide associated therewith pivotally mounted on said frame, means for conveying projectiles from said magazine to said projector, said means comprising a vertically disposedV guide channel adjacent the lower end of said magazine and communicating therewith, an inclined guide communicating at its upper end with the upper end of said vertically disposed guide channel and terminating at its lower end above the projectile guide associated with said projector, and a manually operated elevato-r engageable with the laterally extending nger of said stop member for releasing a projectile from said magazine and elevating the projectile to said inclined guide, a projectile deflector adjacent the upper end of said guide channel, a plate pivotally mounted at one fof its edges in said frame adjacent said magazine guide portion, and having a plurality of spaced apertures adapted respectively to receive said pins, and coin controlled means operatively related to said plate for tilting the plate out of operative relationship with said pins to direct the return of the projectiles by gravity to said guide portion and magazine. i

13. A projectile handling Adevice including a projector, a plurality of projectiles, a magazine therefor having ardischarge opening adjacent its lower end, a movable stop member adjacent said opening and having a laterally extending finger, a retaining pawl movably mounted adjacent said discharge opening and adapted to'extend into said magazine to engage a superposed projectile therein, Ymeans on said stop member engageable with said pawl for moving the pawl from said magazine to release a projectile engaged by said pawl, means for conveying projectiles from said magazine to 75 said projector, said conveying means comprising a vertically disposed guide communicating with said magazine through said discharge opening, an inclined guide communicating at one of its ends with said vertically disposed guide and terminating at its opposite end adjacent said projector, a deflector adjacent the juncture of said guides, and an elevator engageable with said laterally extending finger to move said stop member and allow a projectile to enter said vertically disposed guide, said elevator being movable upwardly to elevate said projectile into engagement with said deflector and into said inclined guide.

14. A ring handling device including a projector and ring guide associated therewith, a plurality of rings, an inclined magazine therefor having a discharge opening adjacent its lower end, a vertically movable stop member adjacent said opening and having a laterally extending finger, a retaining pawl pivotally mounted adjacent said discharge opening and adapted to extend into said magazine to engage a superposed ring therein, means movable with said stop member and engageable with said pawl for moving the pawl from said magazine to release a rin'g engaged by said pawl, means for conveying rings from said magazine to said projector, said conveying means comprising a vertically disposed guide communieating with said magazine through said discharge opening, an inclined guide communicating at one of its ends with the upper end of said vertically disposed guide and terminating at its opposite end adjacent and above the ring guide associated with said projector, a deflector in said vertically disposed guide adjacent its juncture with said inclined guide, and a vertically movable elevator operable in said vertically disposed guide and engageable with said laterally extending finger to move said finger and stop member downwardly to allow a projectile to enter said vertically disposed guide above said elevator, said elevator being movable upwardly to elevate said ring into engagement with said deector and into said inclined guide.

l5. A ring handling device comprising a frame, a plurality of rings, a magazine therefor mounted in said frame and having a discharge opening, a movable stop member adjacent said opening for retaining the rings in said magazine, a retaining pawl adjacent said discharge opening and adapted to extend into said magazine to engage a superposed ring therein, and means operatively related to said stop member and pawl for moving the pawl from said magazine to release the ring engaged by said pawl.

16. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a supporting member having a plurality of spaced pins projecting therefrom, a plate having a pluralityk of apertures formed therein adapted to receive said pins, said plate being pivotally mounted adjacent one of its edges on said frame, a plurality of rings, ring separating and'gauging means operatively related to said plate, a magazine for said rings having a guide portion adjacent the pivoted edge of said plate, a projector, means for conveying the rings from said magazine to said projector, and manually actuated means operatively related to said plate for tilting the plate out of operative relation with respect to said pins for returning the rings by gravity past said ring separating and gauging means to said guide portion and magazine.

17. A projectile handling device comprising a frame, a plurality of ring-like projectiles, a relatively narrow magazine therefor mounted in said frame and having a discharge opening, a projector having a ring guide associated therewith and pivotally mounted on said frame, means for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said ring guide and projector, said means comprising a substantially vertical relatively narrow guide adjacent and in the plane of the discharge opening of said magazine and communicating therewith to receive projectiles therefrom, a re1- atively narrow inclined guide having one of its ends in the lateral plane of and communicating at that end with the upper end portion of said vertical guide to receive projectiles therefrom, said inclined guide terminating at its opposite end above and adjacent the ring guide associated with said projector, and a manually operated elevator engageable with a projectile discharged from said magazine for elevating said projectile through said vertical guide to the receiving end of said inclined guide.

18. A game of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced targets, a plurality of substantially flat projectiles, a magazine therefor having a discharge opening, means operatively related to said targets for directing the projectiles into said magazine, a movable stop member adjacent the discharge opening of said magazine for retaining the projectiles therein, a projector movably mounted on said frame, and means for conveying the projectiles from said magazine to said projector, said means comprising a substantially vertical guide adjacent the discharge opening in said magazine and communicating therewith, an inclined guide communicating at one of its ends with said vertically disposed guide and terminating at its opposite end adjacent said projector, and an elevator engageable with said stop member for releasing a projectile from said magazine and elevating the released projectile to sa'd inclined guide.

WALTER M. SHETLER. 

